Not The Same Rays: Percival and Crew Blow Another For The Rays

At this time last year the chatter in the Tampa Bay area was about a good looking young team with the chance of finishing the season above .500 for the first time in franchise history. 

After a magical season, expectations are much higher and now the chatter (barely audible over the clanging cow bells) is about the disappointing losses to the Yankees and Orioles.

Fear not Ray fan. At this point, last year, the Rays were 4-5.  Exactly where they find themselves after Wednesday’s disappointing loss to the practically home team Yankees.

While I remain optimistic about the remaining 153 games and hope for a repeat visit to the fall classic, I can’t help noticing some departures from what made the 2008 Rays special.

Good starting pitching and a solid defense were the foundation of the 2008 Rays, but no improvement was better than the consistent performance of the Rays bull pen.

So far, in 2009, this has not been the case. 

With two losses, a blown save, a 5.63 ERA and 36 base runners in 24 innings, the 2009 Pen is more representative of the 2007 Rays campaign. Some claim it is fatigued resulting from the extra work of the 2008 post season.  Others attribute it to the low workload during Spring training. Either way, most agree that an inconsistent pen will lead to disappointment once again. 

Another difference between the 2008 and the early 2009 team is the reliance on the deep ball. 

In 2008, the Rays played more like an NL team relying on timely hitting and fabricating runs.  So far they're playing AL power ball, relying on the deep ball to generate runs. 

Slugging average after the first nine games is 21 percent higher than 2008 at .513.  In 2009, five percent of the at bats resulted in a home run versus three pecent in 2008. 

Further indications of swinging for the fences, can be found in higher strikeout rates and lower walks per plate appearance.  It is still too early to tell if this trend will continue but if the pen does not stabilize will need all the deep balls we can get to stay in the race.

Today Ray fan is screaming for the ousting of Percival, Wheeler and Balfour and questioning Maddon’s personnel decisions (Gross and Kapler over Joice) and late innings outfield positioning. 

Some complain that Ray fan is panicking and others think he is merely whining.  I am just happy that Ray fan is finally speaking loudly and the conversation still remains relevant.